Device for holding wire rings in diaphragm clutch

ABSTRACT

A device comprising a diaphragm spring having a peripheral portion seated on the top ends of a plurality of projections along the same circumference on a side face of a pressure plate and retained on the pressure plate by clips, a clutch cover secured to a flywheel, a pair of split wire rings disposed on the opposite side surfaces of the diaphragm spring to fulcrum the diaphragm spring, and a plurality of connecting members for holding the wire rings in pressing contact with the opposite surfaces of the diaphragm spring and securing the same to the clutch cover at the same time, the clutch cover being formed in its wire ring bearing surface with a split annular groove for receiving the side face of the wire ring.

United States Patent 1 111 3,785,466 Muraiet a1. .lan. 15, 11974 DEVICEFOR IIOLDING WIRE RINGS IN DIAPHRAGM CLUTCH [76] Inventors: OkihikoMurai, 1-4, Horigaoka,

l-lirakata; Mamoru Okubo, 28-8, l-liraikecho, Neyagawa, both of Japan i[22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 294,290

[52] US. Cl. 192/89 B, 192/70.27

[51] Int. C1...Fl6d 13/44, F16d 23/00, Fl6d 23/02 [58] Field of Search192/89 B, 70.27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,570,638 3/1971 Baker.192/70.27

3,712,436 1/1973 Rist 192/89 B 3,595,355 7/1971 Maucher 192/89 B2,359,184 9/1944 Wolfram 192/70.27

Primary Examiner-Allan D Herrmann Assistant Examiner-Lance W. ChandlerAtt0rney.lohn C. Holman et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A device comprising a diaphragm spring having a peripheralportion seated on the top ends of a plurality of projections along thesame circumference on a side face of a pressure plate and retained onthe pressure plate by clips, a clutch cover. secured to a flywheel, apair of split wire rings disposed on the opposite side surfaces of thediaphragm spring to fulcrum the diaphragm spring, and a plurality ofconnecting members for holding the wire rings in pressing contact withthe opposite surfaces of the diaphragm spring and securing the same tothe clutch cover at the same time, the clutch cover being formed in itswire ring bearing surface with a split annular groove for receiving theside face of the wire ring.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAT-{MED JAN 1 5 I974 Fig.2-

Fig.1

1 DEVICE FOR HOLDING WIRE RINGS IN DIAPHRAGM CLUTCH BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION tional speed of the clutches, so that the centrifugal forceacting on the wire rings becomes no longer negligible and it isconcerned that the wire rings may possibly be displaced from thepredetermined position. Should such displacement occur, the diaphragmspring would be fulcrumed at a deflected position to result inobjections such as improper disengagement of clutch, reduction of thetorque to be transmitted and increased wear on the clutch facing.

In addition to the prevention of radial displacement of the wire ringsdue to the centrifugal force, it is also necessary to prevent the samefrom displacement in the direction of rotation. in fact, thedisplacement of the wire rings generally takes place conjointly both inradial direction and in the direction'of rotation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to eliminateoccurrence of displacement of the wire rings retained on the clutchcover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for holding thewire rings which is capable of preventing the displacement of wire ringsnot only in the radial direction of the clutch but also in the directionof rotation thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to eliminate difficulties tobe encountered in positioning the wire rings during assembly of theclutch.

In order to fulfil the foregoing objects, the clutch cover according tothis invention is formed with a split annular groove for receiving theside face of a wire ring. The wire ring per se is in the form of a splitannular body and the side face of the wire ring is engaged in the splitannular groove for assembly. The wire ring and another split wire ringand a diaphragm ring are assembled with the clutch cover by a pluralityof connecting members; whereby the displacement of the wire rings bothin the radial direction and in direction of rotation of the clutch canbe completely precluded.

According to this invention. therefore, the wire rings are free of anydisplacement to be otherwise caused by the centrifugal force due tohigh'speed rotation of the clutch, to make it sure that the diaphragmspring will be fulcrumed at a permanently unaltered position and tocompletely eliminate objections due to the displacement of the wirerings such as improper disengagement of the clutch, reduction of thetorque to be transmitted and slippage of the clutch facing. Thus thediaphragm clutch of this invention functions reliably for engagement anddisengagement.

Furthermore according to this invention, the split annular groove servesto determine the position of the wire ring for the assembly of clutch,assuring efficient assemblage.

Other objects and features of this invention will become more apparentfrom the following description of an embodiment of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in vertical sectionshowing the principal parts of this invention, with some known means ofdiaphragm clutch omitted; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing one-half part of a clutch cover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT- Referring to the drawings, apressure plate 1 has on its side face a plurality of projections 1aarranged along the same circumference. As already known, the other faceof the pressure plate 1 serves as a friction face 1b opposing the clutchfacing of an unillustrated clutch disc. The other face of the clutchfacing is in face-t0- face relation to the friction surface of anunillustrated flywheel. Although unillustrated, the clutch disc has ahub splined to a driven shaft such as a main drive shaft for rotationtherewith.

As shown in the drawing, the marginal portion of a diaphragm spring 2 isseated on the top end of projection 10 of the pressure plate 1, and therolled end of each clip 3, secured at the other end to the projection 1aby a rivet 3a or the like, is in resilient contact with the outer faceof marginal portion vof the diaphragm spring 2 to retain the spring 2 onthe pressure plate 1. The inner peripheral portions of the diaphragmspring 2 are divided radially into fingers 2a as already known.

A clutch cover 4 is secured at its outer peripheral portion to theperipheral side face of the unillustrated flywheel with locking bolts(not shown) and is formed with a plurality of openings 4a for receivingtherein the projections 1a of the pressure plate 1 to permit axialmovement of the pressure plate 1. The clutch cover 4 and pressure plate1 are connected together with unillustrated strap plates or the like forconjoint rotation.

A wire ring 6 is interposed between the diaphragm spring 2 and theclutch cover 4. Another wire ring 7 is disposed between the outer faceof the diaphragm spring 2 and flanges 5a of several connecting members 5secured to the clutch cover 4. Each of the connecting members 5 passesthrough a hole 2b formed at the base of finger 2a of the diaphragmspring 2 and has its base 5b caulked to the clutch cover 4,' whereby thepair of wire rings 6 and 7 is clamped between the flanges 5a and theclutch cover 4 in pressing contact with the dia- I phragm spring 2 tofulcrum the spring 2.

The wire ring 6 is in the form of a split annular body having ends 6aand 6b, and the other wire ring 7 is also in a split annular form andhas ends 7a (one end not shown). As seen in the drawing, the two ends 7aof the wire ring 7 are suitably bent, the bent ends being engaged inholes 20 in the diaphragm spring 2 for keeping the wire ring inposition.

The surface of the clutch cover 4 in contact with the wire ring isformed with a split annular groove 4b in confonnity with the wire ring6. The groove 4b receives one side face of the wire ring 6. Thediaphragm spring 2 is placed on the other side face of the wire ring 6,with the wire ring 7 placed on the outer face of the spring 2, and thewire ring 7 is held by the flanges 5a of the connecting members 5.Caulking of the base portions 5b of the connecting members 5 to theclutch cover 4 displacement of the ring in the direction of rotation of5 the clutch. In other words, the portion 4e defining the ends 4c and 4dof the annular groove 4b serves to prevent the displacement of the wirering 6 in the direction of rotation.

The diaphragm spring 2 is shifted as indicated in phantom lines in thedrawing by being fulcrumed on the wire rings 6 and 7 when its fingers 2aare pushed to the left by unillustrated clutch release bearing means,whereby the pressure plate 1 is urged rightward to disengage the clutch.When freed from the pressure exerted by the clutch release bearingmeans, the diaphragm spring 2 returns to the position indicated in thesolid lines in the drawing to move the pressure plate 1 to the left andpress the clutch facing against the flywheel, whereby the clutch isengaged. Thus, the wire rings are held in place against displacement, nomatter how fast the clutch may be driven, to assure effective engagementand disengagement of the clutch.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for holding wire rings in a diaphragm clutch comprising,

a diaphragm spring having a marginal portion seated on the top ends of aplurality of projections along the same circumference on a side face ofa pressure plate and retained on the pressure plate by a plurality ofclips,

a clutch cover secured to a flywheel and formed in its side surface witha split annular groove for receiving the side face of a wire ringtherein,

a pair of wire rings each made ofa split annular member and disposed onthe opposite side surfaces of the diaphragm spring respectively tofulcrum the diaphragm spring, one of the wire rings being interposedbetween the diaphragm spring and the clutch cover and received at itsside face in the annular groove of the clutch cover so as to be retainedin position, and

a plurality of connecting members for holding the wire rings in pressingcontact with the diaphragm spring and securing the same to the clutchcover at the same time.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the other of the pair ofwire rings has its opposite ends bent and engaged in positioning holesformed in the diaphragm spring so as to be retained in'place.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the clutch cover is formedwith a plurality of openings for receiving the projections of thepressure plate to permit axial movement of the pressure plate.

1. A device for holding wire rings in a diaphragm clutch comprising, adiaphragm spring having a marginal portion seated on the top ends of aplurality of projections along the same circumference on a side face ofa pressure plate and retained on the pressure plate by a plurality ofclips, a clutch cover secured to a flywheel and formed in its sidesurface with a split annular groove for receiving the side face of awire ring therein, a pair of wire rings each made of a split annularmember and disposed on the opposite side surfaces of the diaphragmspring respectively to fulcrum the diaphragm spring, one of the wirerings being interposed between the diaphragm spring and the clutch coverand received at its side face in the annular groove of the clutch coverso as to be retained in position, and a plurality of connecting membersfor holding the wire rings in pressing contact with the diaphragm springand securing the same to the clutch cover at the same time.
 2. Thedevice as set forth in claim 1 wherein the other of the pair of wirerings has its opposite ends bent and engaged in positioning holes formedin the diaphragm spring so as to be retained in place.
 3. The device asset forth in claim 1 wherein the clutch cover is formed with a pluralityof openings for receiving the projections of the pressure plate topermit axial movement of the pressure plate.